The new exploits give hope that iPhone 4S jailbreak work is still underway, despite the fast approach of iOS 6. 63% of users voted that work should continue on an iOS 5.1 jailbreak for the iPhone 4S, even though it could lead to security holes being patched in iOS .

iOS 5.1 iPhone 4S Jailbreak Progress

On Twitter @pod2g reports that he found two big iPhone 4S jailbreak vulnerabilities, 1 kernel land exploit and 1 root land exploit.

Pod2g also reports that he now has to be secretive again, though it isn’t clear if he is worried about Apple, other iOS dev teams or is just being cautious. Hopefully work involves the iPhone Dev Team and the Chronic Dev, both of which played a role in the first jailbreak for iPhone 4S.

The last time Pod2g posted about the need to keep exploits secret was back in early January, 10 days before the iPhone 4S jailbreak for iOS 5.0.1 was released.

The same exploit that will jailbreak the iPhone 4S on iOS 5.1 should jailbreak the iPad 2, thought it isn’t clear if it will work on the new iPad 3rd generation without additional tweaking.

If Pod2g and other hackers can exploit the Kernel land vulnerability, we would have a permanent jailbreak for the firmware on all versions of iOS, similar to Limera1n.

iPhone 4S Jailbreak Untethered iOS 5.1 Release Date

The iPhone 4S iOS 5.1 untethered jailbreak released date is still up in the air, but with the recent progress to jailbreak the iPhone 4S, the “Maybe never … (!)” timeframe is hopefully off the table.

As I mentioned, the last time Pod2g claimed he had to keep exploits a secret on Twitter was 10 days before the release of the Absinthe iPhone 4S jailbreak tool.

With progress being made, and the original predictions of 1 to two months, there is hope that users will be able to jailbreak the iPhone 4S by the end of the month.

Even if the iPhone 4S jailbreak is complete this month, Pod2g may wait for the first iOS 6 beta to be released in early June, to identify any patched exploits.

By waiting, Pod2g and iPhone jailbreakers could use exploits on iOS 5.1 that Apple has already patched in iOS 6, saving unknown exploits for the latest version of iOS and gaining a jumpstart on the iOS 6 jailbreak.

iPhone 4S: Why to Jailbreak

Jailbreaking the iPhone allows users to run software Apple does not approve in the app store. The Bluetooth OnOff app is an example of shortcuts to settings that Apple doesn’t allow on the stock iPhone 4S. SBSettings on a jailbroken iPhone 4S delivers similar functionality, shown in the video below.

There are many other great iPhone 4S jailbreak apps that extend the functionality of the iPhone and allow users to customize and control the iPhone as they see fit. Many jailbreak apps area available in the Cydia app store, which allows users to buy jailbreak apps for the iPhone 4S and the iPad.

I will try the iPhone 4S iOS 5.1 jailbreak when it is released and use fewer apps to see if that prevents the same issues from recurring.

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I’m looking forward to trying out the iPhone 4S jailbreak again, especially with apps like f.lux which I miss now that I am on stock iOS 5.1. What’s the first jailbreak app you’ll install when the iPhone 4S Jailbreak for iOS 5.1 is released?